Elastic wheel hub



E. MELIN.

ELASTIC WHEEL HUB.

APPLICATION man APR. 1o, 1919.

Patented Dot. 31, 1922.

fukin-eg Patented @et El,

'nanna Marina, or transmita, rennen.

nnasrro wnnnn HUB;

application med april 1o.

To all cof/0m t may concern.' f i f Be it known that l, linnen lllnLrN, a citizenoli theltepublic olf r rance, residing in Marseille, France, have invented certain new*` and useful improvements in an Elastic Wheell-Iub, oi; which thettollowing is a, specification. f` i i i i The present invention relates to, vehicle wheels; and its object, brierly stated,.is the provision of a wheel having improvedy means for obtaining elasticity and leXibility in `two directions simultaneously, viz: in a direction either perpendicular tothe axle or radial, and in a llateral orftransverse i direction, the purpose being,` `to deaden the shocks` transmitted from" the wheel to 'the axle.` n i According to the invention, a series ofin-l f dividual blocks ot rubber; or equivalent niaA terial is interposed between the axle and the spokes or body of the wheel, these blocks beingpreierably of rectangularsection and removably and interchangeably arranged so that they `can easily be replaced .individu-r ally in case of necessity.4 Wvheels thush rendered elastic in two directions can obviously` have their rotary movements imparted to them `by their hubs (in the case oidriving wheels), or (in thevcase of non-driving` wheels such as supporting;` wheels and guide fwheels) .the blocks can be so disposed as to l avoidslipping` and shearing. But in'drivingl wheels the arrangement adopted tor the pure. pose of obtaining,v elasticity both `in-a radial and in a lat-eral direction, also affords at the same time elasticity in `the direction' of rotation. i l f `rThe constructions'illustratedby way of example showhubs lia-ving special seats for l the blocks, and, with the exception. ot Fig.`

.ixedto its axle; but it is to be understood f that the improved tor-1n of hub is applicable to all types ot vehicle wheels whether lined or` demountableand in vthe latter instance the demounting` devices may be locatet either interiorly or enteriorly ol:l the elastic parts of the hub, which will then be 'either detachable with the` wheel or to 'fthe' hub. Y

ln the accompanying' drawing, y f Fig. 'l is, a view of the improvedy wheel partly iny vertical section and partly in side elevation; f f' y 1 Fig. 2 is a fr 'agmental transverse section i inafter referred tof The portion n.1

191e.- serign no. 289,015.

on line2-22 of Fig. lbut with the cushlening `blocks omitted 1, and

Fig is an enla. .J d detail section oi a modification, 'taken substantially on line 3 3, Fig. 2. i l

f Referring' more particularly to the drawing,` A indicates the tubular hub oic the wheel, which is provided 'interiorly with a suitable anti-friction device, here shown as a sleeve B, The central portion of this hub is enlarged circumterentially,4 as indicated at A1 in Figs. l and 2, and isv formed with transverse `seats of recesses A2 (Fig. l) :tor the reception Voit the ends'oi the shoclcah sorbing blocks or cushions F constructed of rubber or other suitable material and herethe outer `tace of which is channeled while `the inner race,` which confronts the portion is en-y circled by` a concentrically arranged ring if),

ring E` is provided with cheek plates at opposite sides tliereot,'tl1e plates ci each pair being` disposed concentrically and ln spaced relation. The two plates C1 are Adetachably connected by boltsl)1 whichpass throughfoliiening's in the enlargement al, and the' plates Cz'are detacha-bly connected' in like manner by bolts D2 passing through openings in ring vJE. Thisring orcfhannel member E is secured to 'the wheel (assuming that the latter is ofthe wire-spoke type) by means'ot suitable projections E2 onl said i rin@ to whichthe ends of the soolre wires l?? are fastenecLthe Icentral portions of the wires being engaged with cross-pins E4 or thelile provided upon `the rim E,

The rubber yblocks or cushions l?, repre sentedfinFigJ l are fitted at rtheir opposite. ends in the seats El and "f 2. as' previously stated, and hence aredisposed radially ci'` the wheel. These yblocks are preferably rece tangular in shape and have the saine width asthe hub A. Owing to this arrangement,

f the body of the wheel will obtain a resiliencv relative to the axle both in a direction perpendicular to the' axle and at the same time in a transverse or lateral direction, from ico which it follows thaty the movements of the wheel both vertically and laterally'V produced by shocks or by thrust will be deadened or. cushioned simultaneously. This resiliency or mobility is obtained without any friction of metal on metal, whence economyA in 1ubrication results.

To avoid `fouling of thepa-rtsb -mud and dust, the cheek plates C1 and (J2 on each side of the wheel: are connected by' rubber washers H mounted in the spaces; betweeny the-blocksF and held inl place by theblocks themselves,- readily in consequence to either verti'cat or lateral deformation of. the blocks whenitlie -wheel is in motiont It follows from this arrangement ,that` the shockabsorbing blocksy F have a double function: their verticaldef ormation or crushing, enables the; axle: to

assumean eccentric position` relatively to the body of the wheel which deadens the:

vertical shocks; and their deformation-1y lateralshocks permits either; variations of the angle formed by thel plane of. the-wheel l with the axle,` or slight movements. of` the wheelrelatively to its hub5 suchmovements beingl deadened by the resiliency of theblocks which are held ati one end` onpthe pe'- riphery ofthe hub and at the other end, on

therinner circumference of the; ring E. But itresults equally from the arrangement de= scribed, inA the case ofA driving wheelsgl inI additionto the flexibility of suspension andthe absorption of shocks in-.tlie two direcKLV tions indicated, `that therubber: blocksfavfford at the, same time an elasticity inV the` difY rection of rotation oftthewheel, that is toVV say, in acircumferentialdirection Indeed; v in these driving wheels the. blocks servef moreover to limit. the. sudden Ymovements iiicidentalI to starting braking. A v

In the caseof Wheels ofiother types, for

instance wooden-spoke wheels andcastfsteel, wheels, suitable devicese will i be adopted. for securingthe channel ring E to the' body ofz the wheel.

F ig.` 3 represents a modification ofi-.thei

`hub, construction previously described which: is especially applicable toshort-,hubs In thefcase of hubs which'yield in bothhdirec-v tions,it maybe ladvisable to :limit the-*lateral or transverse mevementbyemploying,` for example7 longer` journals which'. affordV an increased support for' the rubber blocks: But thislimitation of the ylateral movement may be effected7 however-V, witheutiincreass ing the length ofthe hub journal by, utiliz-V ingthe arrangement shown .in Fig. faac-y cording to which there*` is assumed to-bef'anv uneven number ofblocks. v The tubular hubmember, A4 in this construetionvis. formed.l

with `a ceiitralv circumferential-rib A5V which is interposedbetween thetwo sectionsiori members F1 and F2 of the blocks. C3 and they washers yielding very and* stopping;y and to the Wheel hits a curbst'one',-or a thrust in thedirection' indicated bythe arrow K. Hub bloclisgelasticin two directions would ordi'.-`

narily actat one end only, where' tliey'are s subjected `rtou a vertical. crushing force iii-` dicated bythearrows L; but withl the press ent arrangement there is at theA same? tini'e`,

ini'a'ddition to this vertical;` deformation, a longitudinal deformation of the blocks' (in the' direction indicated: b v arrow between rihA5 andl cheeks C3 and- C.:

Generally: speaking, the number' of blocks,-

as, welll' as theirv crossfsectional shape:` and the quality' ofi' the rubber,J may vary according to-rthe'elast'icity sought; and the blocks may be.- formed` with` teethv or with perforatio'ns; may have sharp corners or rounded cornersf oninayfbe" circular,l in sectionTetc., though their crosssectional shape ispreferably'rec .tangul ar'.

The-.changing of the rubberk blocks, lwhich" are the only parts subject toV wear, canl be readily effected. inthe constru'ctionsillustrated, without requiringl the vremoval of the' entirel interior) and' then turn thef wheel4 oni the ground. in order. toy bring the' dar'n'aged` block-tofthe top'vof thevwheel.` The: block-` can thenbe readily removediV since' it is fnot' subjected tof any load, after which: a' spare block can'be substitutedfor it and the cheekv platesandmuts then replaced.l

'Thesev elastic hubs canibe utilized to par# ticular advantage on'heavy wheels5 whether@` driving wheels or supporting wheels;V and4 they can supplement the solidztires-which are'inca able of affordingithe required'elafs'# tie-ity, t e" transverse yield or elasticity? avoidin'gs axle" breakage consequent; upon shocks caused lby the wheel striking againstE curbing's.-

I Y claim' as invention 1 a ring; encircling i they-hub and spaced vthere'- fronif g the confronting circumferential faces l of'v said A,hub and 5 ring being provided Iv'with companionivs'eats which open-attheir ends through the opposite side faces thereof andl are disposed 'transversely fand: in spaced relation; a: seriesof structurally independent cushioning; blocks interposed 1 between said: hub and ring in spaced relation'U tovon'elv adapted to yield both laterally and radially of the Wheel simultaneously, so as to impart resiliency to the Wheel both `laterally and radially; annular cheeks yfixed to the said opposite side faces of the hub and ring and projecting across the end faces of the blocks for preventing displacement of the blocks, said cheeks being independent of each other; a rim encircling` said ring and spaced therefrom; a tire carried by the rim; and con-` necting means between said rim and said ring.

2. In a Wheel7 the combination of a hub; a ring encicling` the hub and spaced therefrom, the confronting circumferential faces of said hub and ring being provided with companion seats Which are disposed transversely and in spacedrelation; a series of structurally independent cushioning blocks interposed `between said hub and .ring in spaced relation to one another and havingy their opposite portions engaged in said seats, said cushioning blocks yadapted to yield in two directions simultaneously, so as to impart resiliency to the Wheel in both said di- `reetions simultaneously; a rim encircling ing Witnesses. EMLE MELIN.

l/Vitnesses:

A. MACFARLANE, CH. BoLsK. 

